Build serious Go apps using Gin, Negroni, and more…

Heroku manages Go dependencies using Go Modules, which is the standard for modern Go projects. When you deploy an application, Heroku’s buildpack detects your go.mod file, which lists your project’s dependencies. During the build process, the buildpack automatically downloads these dependencies before compiling your code, ensuring a secure and repeatable build.

The fastest way to get started is by following the official Getting Started on Heroku with Go guide in the Heroku Dev Center. This tutorial provides a sample application and walks you through the steps of cloning the repository, provisioning a Heroku app, and deploying your code with a simple git push heroku main command.

While many Go versions are available for use on Heroku, official support is generally provided for the latest minor release of the last two major Go versions.

You can specify your desired Go version in your go.mod file. Heroku automatically detects this and resolves it to the latest available minor release within that major version. It is strongly recommended to always declare a version to ensure a consistent and predictable build environment.

A unique aspect of the Go ecosystem is that many developers build powerful web applications using only the robust standard library, especially the net/http package, which Heroku fully supports.

For developers who prefer a framework, popular choices on Heroku include lightweight and high-performance options like Gin, Echo, and Chi. Whether you use a framework or stick to the standard library, Heroku can compile and run your Go web application.

No. For a standard deployment, you should push your Go source code directly to Heroku. The platform is designed to handle the entire build process for you. When an app is deployed, the Go buildpack reads your go.mod file to download dependencies, installs the appropriate Go version, and compiles your code using the go install . command. This source-based workflow ensures a clean and repeatable build and means you don’t need to commit compiled artifacts to your Git repository.

The go.mod file is the centerpiece of Go Modules, the standard way to manage dependencies in modern Go projects. It serves three main purposes: it declares the Go language version the module is compatible with, it defines the project’s module path, and it lists all the direct dependencies your project requires.

When you deploy to Heroku, the buildpack reads your go.mod file to both select the correct Go version for the build and to understand which packages to download. This ensures a consistent build environment and that the exact dependencies your project needs are included in the final compiled binary.

If a go.sum file is present, the Go toolchain also verifies that the installed modules match the expected cryptographic hashes.

Yes. Heroku’s platform has native support for WebSockets, and Go’s powerful concurrency features make it an excellent language for building real-time applications.

While Go’s standard library does not include a WebSocket implementation, you can use popular libraries like Gorilla WebSocket. As with any WebSocket implementation on Heroku, you will need to send a heartbeat or ping message periodically to prevent the connection from being closed by an idle router. This makes Heroku a great choice for building real-time applications like live dashboards, streaming services, and chat applications with Go.